Kids

These charming and funny characters take surprises in stride and come out on top, even when they bite off a little more than they can chew. Follow a boy who starts a symphony on the sidewalk and cheer for Carlotta when she uses her magical cloud to help others. Then comfort Olga when there’s a funny rumble in her tummy and help Matthew track down his special birthday present! Great Expectations features 11 films from seven countries.

Family
Dir. Walter Santucci
US/UK, 2011, 2min
New York premiere.
Based on the poem by acclaimed poet John Siddique, this charming short shows how two friends from vastly different worlds develop a bond that makes them feel like family. 

Miss Devine
Dirs. Mike Rauch & Tim Rauch
US, 2010, 4min
Cousins Cherie Johnson and James Ransom reminisce about one of the most memorable people of their childhood, the unforgettable Miss Devine, in this adaption of a StoryCorps story. 

Fat Hamster
Dir. Adam Wyrwas
Poland, 2011, 3min
No dialogue. New York premiere. 
Mrs. Hamster just wants Mr. Hamster to exercise more, but he’s having too much fun eating!

Corrida
Dir. Janis Cimermanis
Latvia, 2012, 7min
No dialogue. New York premiere.
When a crafty bull escapes from a coliseum and chases a matador up a tree, the Rescue Team is called into action.

Private Eyes
Dir. Nicolas Lemay
Canada, 2011, 12min
New York premiere.
Matthew is visually impaired, but he’s also a super-secret detective who uses his other “eyes,” or senses, to crack the case. With his birthday coming up, Matthew goes into detective mode to see if he can discover his “special” present.

Sidewalk Symphony
Dir. Jonathan Salemi
US, 2010, 8min
No dialogue. New York premiere.
An energetic boy dances his way to the grocery store, until his portable music player is taken away. Instead of sulking, he discovers that when we stop and take a listen to our surroundings, we can find beautiful music all around us. 

Olga
Dir. Kai Pannen
Germany, 2011, 6min
In German with English subtitles. New York premiere. 
Olga is a fun-loving pig with lots of friends and a job she loves. But when a rumble in her tummy starts to worry her, she needs help from someone who really understands how she feels. 

Wedding Party: Wedding Dress
Dir. Mahin Javaheriyan
Iran, 2012, 3min
No dialogue. New York premiere.
At a wedding, a young girl daydreams about wearing the bride’s exquisite wedding dress and her exuberant wedding party. 

Green Pencil
Dir. Jan Stelizu
Poland, 2009, 10min
In Polish with English subtitles. New York premiere.
When Emily starts coloring, her imagination runs wild! Follow her on an exciting journey into adventure-filled drawings with her pet hamster and a host of colorful characters. 

Carlotta and the Cloud
Dir. Daniel Acht
Germany, 2010, 6min
In German with English subtitles. New York premiere.
Carlotta gets the magical gift of a remote control that can control a cloud. But darker storms threaten when she spots a toy car on fire. Can Carlotta save the day and make some new friends in the process? 

Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct
Dir. Pete List
US, 2012, 10min
 New York premiere.
This adaptation of the beloved children’s book by Mo Willems follows Edwina, a kindhearted dinosaur, as her very existence is challenged by know-it-all Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie.